r the initiation of the Universal Service system, the
Government was met with the difficulty of providing the necessarily
increasing cost. On the estimates being framed for the ensuing year it
was found that the expenditure was somewhat heavier than had been
anticipated. The Government had followed my advice so far and were quite
prepared to urge Parliament to find the money, but they considered it
would be most desirable to get the highest military opinion procurable to
support them in doing so. How was this to be done? There was only one
solution. I advised the Commonwealth Government to approach the Imperial
Government with a view to their sending an Imperial officer of highest
standing to report, whose opinion, if favourable to the system as
inaugurated, would be of the greatest possible value in backing their
demands for sufficient funds to meet all its requirements.

Lord Kitchener was selected by the War Office, instructed to visit
Australia, make a thorough inspection, inquire fully into the progress
made with the initiation of the system, report whether it was sound in
principle and practice, and, if it met with his approval, suggest such
modifications as he considered advisable.

Lord Kitchener arrived at Port Darwin on December 21, 1910. Advantage was
taken of his visit by the Commonwealth Government, not only to obtain his
opinion as to the merits or otherwise of the Universal Service scheme,
but also a report upon the efficiency and the standard of training
existing at the time in the Commonwealth Forces. I was at the time
Commandant of New South Wales.

I arranged for a camp of continuous training for the whole of our States'
field forces, to be held at the Liverpool Area from January 5-12
inclusive, and for the Garrison troops at their respective war stations.

As it may interest soldiers to see the nature of the work carried out
during the camp, I quote from the "general idea" of the exercises the
programmes of two days' work:

_Thursday, 6th January, 1910._

FIELD FORCE
1ST LIGHT HORSE BRIGADE
(Manoeuvre and Tactical Exercise)

STAFF

_Brigadier_ Colonel J. M. Onslow.
_Orderly Officer_ Captain E. W. R. Soane, V.D.
_Brigade-Major_ Captain J. M. Arnott.
_Instl. Staff Officer attached_ Captain R. C. Holman, D.S.O.
_Inte